Just wanted to add a bit for the LMDE-Squeeze (Stable) section. There are a couple of repos you can/should add if you run this setup. Below is a copy of the sources I use for my LMDE-Squeeze setups. When updating LMDE 201101 I do see pulls coming from the squeeze-updates repo, and Multimedia maintains a backports repo for squeeze. I believe there was an updated VLC available there last time I looked.

I bolded the two additional repos. Substitute the mirror server of your choice, of course!

I've updated my tutorial with squeezy's additional debian multimedia squeeze-backports repo (thanks), but also a big disclaimer at the top about updating to UP4.

Suffice to say, yes ... a lot of stuff from UP4 (from the Mint repo, specifically) conflicts with Squeeze and will bork it. It is still entirely possible to have an LMDE Squeeze, it just requires a little sacrifice. You could (a) be much more mindful of updates, or (b) disable the Mint repo so that you only receive Debian squeeze and squeeze-backports updates. This way you can still keep the fantastic GNOME and Mint Menu, and will still get all the up-to-date stuff. Yes yes ... not ALL the up-to-date stuff ... for those that are still refusing to use Iceweasel because they use proprietary version of the same code (Firefox) ... you'll be out of luck. Other than those few exceptions, though, you should be safe.

That is for those that want to cling to a few more moments of our belovedly deceased GNOME 2. For those that are willing to let go ... MATE is pretty much the exact same thing, Compiz and all, and its gotten pretty stable. Just sayin.

the beauty of linux is that the rabbit hole goes as deep as you want it to go.

I'm using the new LMDE RC spin right now and MATE basically is Gnome 2 at this point. What we could use, especially for newbies, if someone is willing to do it is the path to the new Stable next year using LMDE. Wheezy is about to go into freeze and will be the new Stable next year, am I correct in thinking that changing the new LMDE spin sources to the new Stable when it arrives should work fine to make it the next Stable?KBD47

3.1.11 I am currently tracking stable. Can I change to testing or unstable? If so, How?

If you are currently running stable, then in the /etc/apt/sources.list file the third field will be either squeeze or stable. You need to change this to the distribution you want to run. If you want to run testing, then change the third field of /etc/apt/sources.list to testing. If you want to run unstable, then change the third field to unstable.

Currently testing is called wheezy. So, if you change the third field of /etc/apt/sources.list to wheezy, then also you will be running testing. But when wheezy becomes stable, you will still be tracking wheezy.

Unstable is always called Sid. So if you change the third field of /etc/apt/sources.list to sid, then you will be tracking unstable.

Currently Debian offers security updates for testing but not for unstable, as fixes in unstable are directly made to the main archive. So if you are running unstable make sure that you remove the lines relating to security updates in /etc/apt/sources.list.

If there is a release notes document available for the distribution you are upgrading to (even though it has not yet been released) it would be wise to review it, as it might provide information on how you should upgrade to it.

Nevertheless, once you make the above changes, you can run aptitude update and then install the packages that you want. Notice that installing a package from a different distribution might automatically upgrade half of your system. If you install individual packages you will end up with a system running mixed distributions.

It might be best in some situations to just fully upgrade to the new distribution running apt-get dist-upgrade, aptitude safe-upgrade or aptitude full-upgrade. Read apt's and aptitude's manual pages for more information.3.1.12 I am currently tracking testing (wheezy). What will happen when a release is made? Will I still be tracking testing or will my machine be running the new stable distribution?

It depends on the entries in the /etc/apt/sources.list file. If you are currently tracking testing, these entries are similar to either:

If the third field in /etc/apt/sources.list is 'testing' then you will be tracking testing even after a release is made. So after wheezy is released, you will be running a new Debian distribution which will have a different codename. Changes might not be apparent at first but will be evident as soon as new packages from unstable go over to the testing distribution.

But if the third field contains 'wheezy' then you will be tracking stable (since wheezy will then be the new stable distribution).

just note that those repo changes can't be made with the debian.linuxmint repos active in the sources.list.

Thanks zerozero! I'm a big fan of Mint Debian, but the repo thing has always been a bit confusing, even back when I was using MEPIS. I've got Mint Debian installed on two computers and I'm using LMDE RC installed on a usb stick right now. I've probably been safe so far with my Mint Debian installs pointed to Squeeze because they are Xfce versions. But I want to make sure I understand this. Here are the sources I'm using for my Mint Xfce installs:Mint to Debian Stable Repositories:

Am I correct in thinking that first repository with "Mint" in the name, the "backport" source has to go? If so, is there a good Debian backport I could replace it with to get updates for Firefox, LibreOffice, Thunderbird? One other question if you will let me pick your mind a bit more, am I correct in understanding that for the new Mint Debian spins, the sources can be set to Wheezy instead of Testing and be followed into the next Stable?Thanks a million!KBD47

LO is in the repos, FF and TB are not and you sure know why, but iceweasel and icedove are very easy to get and are even updated quicker http://mozilla.debian.net/

regarding the last question, yes it can be done, but in a two-step-operation:- first you have to change the repos from the mint mirrors (latest/incoming) to the debian repos (if you do it around june - with the deep-freeze) you won't get breakages;- then you just have to make sure that instead of testing, your sources.list read wheezy and in fev next year you enter into debian7-mintified

Thanks zerozero! Yes, I had a memory lapse Forgot about the thunderbird/icedove forefox/iceweasel thing Not really sure why then, when I switched from Latest to Squeeze on my sources a few months ago, my Firefox and Thunderbird and LibreOffice got updated while those pointing to Latest source didn't. Sounds like it will be easy to have a Stable Mint Debian going into next year Thanks again! KBD47

LifeInTheGrey wrote:Suffice to say, yes ... a lot of stuff from UP4 (from the Mint repo, specifically) conflicts with Squeeze and will bork it. It is still entirely possible to have an LMDE Squeeze, it just requires a little sacrifice. You could (a) be much more mindful of updates, or (b) disable the Mint repo so that you only receive Debian squeeze and squeeze-backports updates. This way you can still keep the fantastic GNOME and Mint Menu, and will still get all the up-to-date stuff. Yes yes ... not ALL the up-to-date stuff ... for those that are still refusing to use Iceweasel because they use proprietary version of the same code (Firefox) ... you'll be out of luck. Other than those few exceptions, though, you should be safe.

That is for those that want to cling to a few more moments of our belovedly deceased GNOME 2. For those that are willing to let go ... MATE is pretty much the exact same thing, Compiz and all, and its gotten pretty stable. Just sayin.

LifeInTheGrey, I'm using the repos you list, which repo is to be disabled for Mint to avoiding borking the setup? Looks like I will need to set up Iceweasel and Icedove KBD47

zerozero wrote:KBD,the backport in the packages.linuxmint repo are not replacement/conflict/addiction for the debian backports.i can't remember last time linuxmint.backport was used http://packages.linuxmint.com/list.php? ... n#backportthe issues come from main upstream import.

zerozero, I hashed out this source:deb http://packages.linuxmint.com/ debian main upstream import backport There were several packages from Mint coming through that repo, including Firefox and Thunderbird updates as well as several Mint specific packages. I checked updates on two of my computers with and without that source and there were packages coming through it. I'm going to see if my Mint Debian Stable holds up with the old spins set to just the Debian Squeeze and backport repos. We really need a Mega Thread just for items relating to Stable setups of Mint Debian.KBD47